JODI PROFFITT

Today is Election Day, with some contentious local elections garnering most of the attention.
In Delaware County, in the town of Sidney, 2 candidates are looking to replace controversial supervisor Bob McCarthy, they are Democrat Bill Heath & Republican Gene Pigford.
For the Sidney Town Council, 4 people are vying for 2 seats; they are Democrats Pete Cordes, & Paul Muratore and Republicans John Woodyshek & Jodi Proffitt.
In the Town of Franklin, 3 candidates are running for 2 seats on the town board, they are Republicans David Grant & Garrett Sitts & for the “Better Franklin” line, the candidate is Patricia Tyrell. In the Town of Masonville in the Supervisor’s race, Republican Michael Spaccaforno faces a challenge from Masonville First candidate Marie Sroka.
In Otsego County:
2 seats on the Town of Oneonta board will be decided with 4 candidates running: democrats Patricia Jacob & Andrew Stammell & republicans Brett Holleran & Fred Volpe. For the 2 town justice seats, the 3 candidates are independent Dawn Oliver & Republicans Sean Farrell & Bruce Smith.
In the Town of Unadilla 3 candidates are vying for 2 seats on the town Council, they are Democrat Jakkie Bickos & Republicans Roger Cecce, George Banta
In the Town Of Butternuts, supervisor candidates are Democrat Charles Eckleman & Republican Linda Grover.
In Chenango County, in the Town of Afton, 4 candidates are running for 2 seats they are Democrats Alan Steinberg, Rich Cuthbertson & Republicans Robert Tallmadge, and Chris Warren. In the Town Of Guilford, 2 seats are open on the Town Council; the 4 candidates are Democrats Kenneth Fogerty & Dolores Fuller & Republicans Tomas Ives & Barbara O’Dell
In the Town of Coventry 2 people are running for Supervisor, with George Westcott getting both the Republican & Democratic Party nomination, the Liberty Party candidate is Gwendolyn Hinman. For Town Justice, Democrat A. Bruce Warren faces Republican Joseph Agunzo, in the Town Council race, 2 seats are open, candidates are Democrat Jeffrey Vance, Republicans Robert Boudreau & John Wicks, for the Liberty Party, the candidate is George Broeg.
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Voters across the State will see several propositions on the ballot today, they include measures to allow 7 casinos to The Catskill & southern tier regions, another would allow judges in some courts to serve until the age of 80.
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Binghamton police announced 2 arrests in connection with a homicide on Mygatt Street Monday. Fire fighters were called to 32 Mygatt Street around 6 a.m. Monday, they found a critically injured woman who said her boyfriend had just been murdered, the man’s body was discovered on the 2nd floor. Arrested Monday night were 21-year-old Julian Talamantez of Binghamton, and 25 year old Nigel Saunders of Binghamton, for 1 count each of 2nd degree murder & attempted murder.
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State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that an Election Day hotline is up & running today, to help ensure that minority-language voters, people with disabilities and all eligible voters are able to cast an effective ballot during the today’s elections. The Hotline is 800-771-7755, it will be open today through 9:00 PM.
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State spending was nearly $860 million lower than expected through the first half of the fiscal year while tax collections were just shy of projections, according to the Mid-Year report from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Spending from All Funds through the first six months was $64.1 billion, an increase of 6.9%, but was $859.4 million below projections. Tax collections rose by $2.8 billion, or 8.8%, thanks to 11.4% growth in personal income tax collections. The full report is available at osc.state.ny.us.
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State police reported that 21-year-old Megan Dunleavy of Connecticut fell from a 5-story roof at the former Kutcher’s resort in Sullivan county Thursday, while working for an event to reform marijuana laws. Dunleavy was a senior at Hartwick College in Oneonta, foul play was not suspected. State police reported that Dunleavy had been staying at Kutcher’s while working for concert promoter Damn Sam Productions and was assisting in the organization of the New York Harvest Festival and Freedom Fair that had been scheduled this past weekend.

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The Sidney Republican Committee will hold a meet the candidates’ event this evening in Sidney. Supervisor candidate Gene Pigford and Town Council candidates John Woodyshek & Jodi Proffitt will meet with interested Sidney town residents at the Sidney library from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.

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The Chenango County Health Department will hold another free rabies clinic tonight. The clinic will be held at the Oxford fire station from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, more information is available at 337-1673.

The 4 candidates for the Sidney town board debated at the Sidney Library Smart community room Thursday night. The most controversial issue discussed by the candidates was the moratorium passed by the town board last year against hydrofracking. Republican candidate Jodi Proffitt went first:

(Jodi Proffitt moratorium)

Republican candidate John Woodyshek was second to discuss the moratorium:

The Sidney town board & Sidney town supervisor debates will be aired tonight following the 6:00 PM news on WCDO, they are also available online at WCDORadio.com.

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The national weather service has announced that a Tornado Watch is in effect through 5:00 PM today. The watch covers much of the State, storms heading this way are expected to have high damaging winds and heavy rains through the mid-afternoon hours.

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Governor Cuomo announced more than 82,000 positions are available on New York State’s Jobs Express website. Jobs Express connects job seekers to openings in each Region of the state and currently lists an average of 51,000 new jobs each month statewide. The Jobs Express website sorts jobs by Region to help job seekers evaluate what industries are growing in their area. Job seekers and employers can visit the Jobs Express website at labor.ny.gov/jobs.

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Governor Cuomo announced that after just 6 weeks, more than one million homeowners have registered for their Basic STAR exemptions, saving themselves $700 every year on average. More than 90 percent of those who have registered completed their registration on the Tax Department’s website: tax.ny.gov. Homeowners without Internet access can call 518-457-2036 to register with a representative.

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The East Branch Rest Area of State Route 17 will be the new home for a Visitor’s Information Kiosk, to provide travelers with information about Delaware County’s natural resources, and recreational outdoor activities. The kiosk will consist of 4 panels covered with fabricated interpretive signs and 2 panels have signboards, with locking Plexiglas doors. Brochures supplied by the Delaware County Chamber will be included, it will be maintained by the Hancock Chamber of Commerce. Funding for this project was made possible through a marketing grant from the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency.

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State senator Tom Libous announced that the recent $90 Million dollar restoration of funding for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, would keep about half their program s targeted for cuts, to continue to operate. Libous said that locally, the restored funding helps, programs like Achieve, Southern Tier Independence Center, Norwich ARC and the Handicapped Children’s Association, but the plans to close the Broome Developmental Center has not been changed. Senator Libous has a petition for constituents to sign to keep Broome Developmental Center Open at TOMLIBOUS.COM/STOPTHECLOSING.

Sidney Town Supervisor candidates, Republican Gene Pigford & democrat Bill Heath will participate in tonight’s town debates at the Sidney library. 2 seats are open on the Sidney town board, Democrats Pete Cordes & Paul Muratore, and Republicans John Woodyshek & Jodi Proffitt will participate. Those who would like to submit written questions are advised to arrive to the Smart Community room at 5:30; the event will begin at 6:00PM. WCDO will be recording to nights debates for broadcast on Monday night at 6:00 PM, the debate will also be placed on the WCDO website.

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Former Governor George Pataki, former Comptroller Carl McCall and union and business leaders will head the New York Tax commission set up by Governor Andrew Cuomo, to find ways to cut $2 to $3 billion dollars in taxes over the next few years. Cuomo commented at a press conference in Westchester County Wednesday:

(Cuomo 10-3-13)

The Commission’s recommendations will be due by December 6th for inclusion in the Governor’s 2014 State of the State message.

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Flu season doesn’t technically start until December 1, experts are urging people to get their flu shot early after last year’s flu numbers rose across New York State. Anyone 6 months and older should get the shot every year. People younger than 5, and older than 50 have the highest risk of suffering complications from the flu. More information is available at health.ny.gov

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New York is looking into creating its first statewide early warning system for tornados. A bill signed into law by Governor Cuomo directs a review into the feasibility of installing a system that could involve sirens at firehouses, schools, hospitals, sports facilities and other buildings to alert residents in areas statewide. The effort by the Legislature and governor comes after three years of severe weather that included hurricanes, floods and tornados. The warnings would also be spread in social media including text messages. The first report of findings and recommendations is due March 1st.

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This year, Unadilla Laminated is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing in Sidney. Unalam will host an open house from on Tuesday, October 22 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. RSVP’s are requested by October 18th. More information is available at 369-9341

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THE CHENANGO COUNTY arrested 3 people on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy, making a false written statement and Petty Larceny. Charged were 25-year-old Vanessa Furgison, 40-year-old Brian Smith and 30-year-old Heidi Moore, for allegedly stealing a prescription bottle from a victim’s purse while visiting that person’s residence in the village of new Berlin. All 3 were issued appearance tickets for town of New Berlin court at a later date.

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State police in Oneonta arrested 39-year-old Michelle Anderson of Oneonta for aggravated DWI with a BAC of .23% and other vehicle and traffic law violations. While investigating a one-car accident on County Highway 60 in Oneonta, troopers determined the driver was intoxicated. Anderson was issued tickets or Oneonta town court October 22nd.

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Commerce Chenango will co-host a “Meet the Candidates” Business After Hours on October 16th, at the Sidney Federal Credit Union Norwich branch. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, registration fro the event is requested by October 14th at 334-1402.

4 candidates are running for 2 seats on the Sidney town board this year. Jodi Proffitt is running for the republican party in the election, he told WCDO News that the board has to do a better job in listening to the constituents and managing revenues:

(Jodi Proffitt 10-2-13)

Proffitt will also participate in the town board debate to be held at the Sidney library Smart Community Room Thursday evening.

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Novelty lighters at checkout counters that look like guns, cars, toys, tiny fire extinguishers and even SpongeBob SquarePants are being outlawed in New York. Governor Cuomo signed a bill to ban the sale of the items. The lighters range from small toy-like bodies with whistles and buzzers to larger M-16 military rifle replicas. Others are lighters that are part of wristwatches or play music or flash lights. The governor said the goal is to keep the lighters away from children and preventing a fire hazard.

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The Siena Research Institute released a showing that 46% of new Yorkers are in favor & 46% oppose of a state amendment to allow non-Indian, Las Vegas style casinos in New York. 55% would approve the amendment with wording that reads, “allow the Legislature to authorize up to 7 casinos in New York for the legislated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated.” The poll also revealed a decline in Governor Cuomo’s favorability rating to 50%, down 2 points from August.

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The Oneonta town board will present their tentative budget proposal at a meeting this afternoon. The meeting will begin at 4:00 PM at the town hall in west Oneonta.

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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce will hold their next Meeting this morning. The meeting will begin at 7:45 at Sidney Golf & Country Club, chamber members & directors are encouraged to attend.

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The town of Unadilla highway department will conclude their culvert replacement project on Rod & Gun Club road today. The road will be closed until 3:00 PM Today; the crews have replaced 10 culverts this week.